Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-26

The Growing Interest in the South
The interest which the South is ex.
citing at the North is remarkable,
although it is net greater than is justified
by the increasing indications of Southern
progress and prosperity. There is scarcely
a newspaper of prominence in any of the
Northern cities which has not more OF
less to say about the wonderful develop
ment that is going on in the Southern
/ States.
| Several things have contributed to give
the South the boom" which 1t is now en-
! jOyng, the chief of which, probably, is
the fact that the national government is
In control Of the Democratic party. A
Democratic admins tration is not likely
to do anything more TO advance
the interests of the South than the Re-
publican administrations did, but it in
sures a peaceful condition Of affairs in
every Southern State.
Capital will go only where there is
peace and contentment, because peace is
required for the prosecution of important
enterprises. While the Republicans
were in control of the government there
existed more or less dissatisfaction In all
the Southern States, and for much Of the
time there was very bitter feeling be-
tween the people and the officials who
were maintained in power by means Of
Federal bayOnets. 1t was known years
ago that the South possessed great agrl-
cultural resources. and that several Of
the Southern States were rich in TIMBER
iron and coal. Spectators made invest
ments in the iron and coal lands, but
there was no marked movement in behalf
OF industrial enterprises.
w hen the Democratic party came into
power much more kindly feel
ing between the Northern and Southern
people at once became apparent. With
| this kindly feeling there came stronger
confidence In the South's future. Capt.
| tai followed, and now millions OF North
ern money are being invested IN Southern
mines. lands, forests and Industrial en-
terprises. These investments are only
Just beginning. 10 a comparatively few
years they will be ten times what they are
now. Eventually the South will supply
the country with coal and iron, and Will
manufacture the cotton that she grows.
There may be men now living who will
see the South do these things.
There was another thing which helped
to bring the Southern States into notice,
and open the way to prosperity
for them, and that was the
great fair at New Orleans a couple Of
years ago. The MORNING News pointed
out time and again the benefit that that
fair would be to this section of the cOun-
try, and urged that Georgia should take
the necessary steps TO be well represented
there. IL is probably safe to say that
hundreds of people who visited that fair
got their first comprehensive idea of the
great varied resources of the South from
it, and were induced by what they saw
there to make investments in the Southern
States. pos ....t.
The undeVeloped wealth of the South is
scarcely t0uehsd yet. 1T will excite still
greater interest as its extent becomes
more fully understood. In the mining
regions there is just now speculative
fever that may deprive many a one of
small means OF every dollar which he
possesses, but the existence of such fe-
yer is good evidence that the stories
of what may be expected of the iron
and coal regions are hardly equal to the
truth. There Will be many disappointed
ones, doubtless, among those who are TAX
ing risks in town sites, but their disap-
pointment ought not and, doubtless, will
not, lessen confidence in the SOuth's re-
sources. From present indications it is
almost impossible to 60 amlss In making
investments in the South. Land that can
be bought for almost nothing now will
command fair price in the near future.